Spring-assisted paintball loader

Abstract

A mechanism for feeding uniformly-sized spherical projectiles such as paintballs into a gun adapted to shoot said projectiles is positioned in a lower region of a paintball-holding magazine, and includes a spinning body in the form of a spool from the peripheral side of which project radial arms shaped and dimensioned to urge projectiles toward a duct leading to the ammunition intake port of the gun. The spool is driven by a switchable electrical motor. In order to avoid gaps into the row of paintballs that are urged toward the ammunition intake port when the motor is not running which could result in dry firing, a resiliently variable linkage between the propelling arms is provided by a spiral spring or a pair of stretchable coil springs.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to ammunition feeding mechanisms and more specifically to mechanisms for feeding uniformly-sized spherical projectiles such as paintballs into a gun.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The firing rate of most recent versions of paintball markers (also called paintball gun) sometimes exceeds the rate at which projectiles can be fed into the breech intake port. Accordingly, when feeding paintballs from a hopper or magazine, it is critical not to allow any delay or gap in the chain of projectiles moving toward the intake port of the marker. When the mechanism that propels the paintball toward the shoot or tube leading to the gun intake is started with each pull of the trigger then allowed to stop after a short period, the queue of paintballs may be disrupted when the propelling mechanism stops for lack of feeding pressure behind the last ball in the queue. Delays and gaps can thus be created, eventually causing dry firing of the gun.[0003...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention aims to ensure a steady flow of paintballs into a paintball marker and prevent dry firing caused by gaps in the chain or row of projectiles. This is achieved by regulating the feeding of paintballs to the gun and maintaining an uninterrupted queue or row of projectiles in line toward the gun intake port. A paddlewheel consisting of a propelling arm and a spiral spring applies enough pressure through the arm against the row of projectiles being fed to the gun to prevent gaps in the row of the projectiles progressing through the duct."

Problems solved by technology

When the mechanism that propels the paintball toward the shoot or tube leading to the gun intake is started with each pull of the trigger then allowed to stop after a short period, the queue of paintballs may be disrupted when the propelling mechanism stops for lack of feeding pressure behind the last ball in the queue.

Delays and gaps can thus be created, eventually causing dry firing of the gun.

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